Class: Grade 7, General Science Unit: Volcanoes Topic: Mineral Identification
Instructional Objectives:
Define minerals and explain each of the physical properties that can be used to identify them; color, luster, hardness, streak, density, crystal shape, cleavage and fracture.
Identify unknown minerals using physical properties.
Activities & Assignments:
20 minutes: Class discussion and notes on what a mineral is and which physical properties scientists use to identify them and what each of these physical properties are.
45 minutes: Experiment - Working in small groups, students will carefully test and observe unknown mineral samples' physical properties to identify them. Students will create a data table of their results and then using this data, students will use the Mineral Identification Key to determine each of the minerals names.
15 minutes: Review - Groups will take turns identifying each mineral out loud. Teacher will provide correct answers using key if none of the groups identified a sample correctly.
5 minutes: Clean up.
12 minutes: Students will complete the Identifying Minerals Worksheet below.
Materials Needed:
Textbooks
Mineral Identification Keys
Sets of common mineral samples - numbered
streak plates
hardness kits containing (copper penny, steel nail, piece of glass)
magnets
Resources for Lesson:
Maton, A, Hopkins, J, Johnson, S, & LaHart, D (1993). Dynamic Earth. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Earth Science Binder of worksheets - Saddleback Publishing, Inc. 2006.
Unit: Volcanoes
Topic: Mineral Identification
Instructional Objectives:
Activities & Assignments:
Materials Needed:
Resources for Lesson:
Maton, A, Hopkins, J, Johnson, S, & LaHart, D (1993). Dynamic Earth. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Earth Science Binder of worksheets - Saddleback Publishing, Inc. 2006.
Minerals Worksheet